The air fresheners’ aisle in the grocery store is packed with a dizzying array of choices. You’ll find everything from sprays, candles, gels, solids, plug-ins, and oils – and that’s just for the home. The automotive section has even gotten in the game with scents for the car. But which is the best air freshener? It comes down to personal taste, tolerance toward fragrances and convenience. Because they are so personal, air freshener reviews are varied. Learn about the different options before stocking up on the latest air fresheners.

Air Fresheners for the Home

Room air fresheners come in just about any scent you can imagine from simple vanilla to seasonal scents such as cranberry or gingerbread. In addition, different fragrances are appropriate for different rooms of the house. Try a “Dutch Apple Pie” fragrance in the kitchen and lavender in the restroom. An air freshener with a clean-sheet scent is ideal in bedrooms, laundry rooms and other rooms where you want a light, clean scent that doesn’t overpower.

In addition to air fresheners that infuse a room with fragrance, you will also find odor neutralizers. These serve to remove the odor rather than covering it up with a pleasant aroma. Along the same general philosophy are air fresheners developed to use on the carpets and upholstery to rid the home of deeper odors such as cigarette smoke, pet odors and mildew.

Choosing a fragrance that you like is an important consideration when buying an air freshener, however, there’s more involved. You may want a spray-on top to quickly neutralize offensive odors. You may also like a continuous air freshener such as a solid or plug-in to keep a room smelling fresh all the time.

SpraysAerosol sprays are one of the quickest-acting air fresheners available. Simply spray and wave the canister around the room and enjoy a delightful scent. Sprays are ideal for use in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, and den. If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of aerosol sprays, you can rest assured that today’s spray air fresheners are CFC-free. In addition, many steel aerosol cans are recyclable. Call 1-800-937-1226 to reach the Steel Recycling Institute.

Plug-insPlug-in air fresheners look a bit like nightlights. They plug into an electrical outlet which gently warms the gel or oil cartridge. This type of air freshener gradually releases the fragrance, making for a light scent that doesn’t overpower. Plug-in style air fresheners are ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, dens, and living rooms.

Scented CandlesMany air fresheners come in candle form. Not only can you create ambiance with light, but you can freshen the air at the same time. Scented candles are ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and dens. Like all candles, air freshener candles must be used with caution. They usually come in a decorative glass jar.

Gel

Gel air fresheners are a long-lasting solid type of freshener that comes in several different configurations including the plug-in variety as well as solid adjustable canisters. To control the amount of scent on the adjustable canister, simply twist the lid up or down, exposing more or less of the solid gel. These air fresheners shouldn’t be in small rooms or the scent could become overpowering.

Scented Oil

Scented oils are another popular type of air freshener, but first you’ll need to buy an oil warmer. These gently warm the oil and release the scent. You can also buy oil refills so that once the original oil is gone, you can continue enjoying the oil warmer. Oil warmers come in both electric versions as well as decorative oil warmers that use tea lights to warm the oil and release the aroma.

Air Fresheners for the Car

If you’re looking for an air freshener for your car, you’ll need one designed for automotive use. Spraying a household air freshener into a small space such as a car isn’t a smart idea unless you want to be overwhelmed by a strong fragrance. Instead, purchase an air freshener specially formulated for your car.

Don’t worry, you won’t be stuck with a cardboard pine tree dangling from your rearview window (unless you like the retro feel such an air freshener lends). Today’s car air fresheners have grown up.

Like home air fresheners, the ones made for the car come in scents galore. In addition, they come in many different forms ranging from paper and cardboard to gels and sprays.

If hanging an air freshener from your rearview mirror appeals to you, you don’t have to settle for the plain old pine tree or its cousins. Try something fresh like Native American air fresheners in the shape of dream catchers, prayer feathers and kokopelli shields, featuring refillable fragrant disks.

Plastics have changed the technology of freshening your car’s air. Scented plastic air fresheners come in all shapes and sizes to suit just about any nose. The plastic type has a subtle, long-lasting fragrance. You can get scented oil fragrances for your car. These clip right onto your car’s air conditioning vents and circulate a soft, fresh scent whenever the vents are open, even when the air is cool.

An out-of-sight air freshener for the car is one that stores under the seat. These are scented sheets that tuck neatly under your car’s seats, quietly freshening the air and removing odors.

Automotive spray fragrances are handy for clearing the air from time to time. These don’t last as long as some other options but they are fast. Like their aerosol for the home counterparts, spray fragrances are a quick way to temporarily freshen your car’s air.

For an automotive take on the “plug-in” craze, consider an air freshener that plugs into your car’s lighter jack. These come in numerous setups – some with lights and adjustments.

Another innovative air freshener for the car is a sticky, solid gel-type that literally sticks to surfaces. You can remove these little globs and stick them somewhere else. These are handy for placing in hard-to-reach areas, such as under the dash.

Natural Air Fresheners

In addition to all of the commercial air fresheners on the market, you’ll also find a few natural air fresheners. However, you don’t have to buy one – you can make your own! Buy a selection of essential oils and use them to soak cotton balls. Place the fragrant cotton balls in strategic locations. You may want to use a piece of plastic beneath the cotton ball to prevent staining.

Want to make your own natural deodorizer? Mix a teaspoon of essential oil to a cup of baking soda. Use this mixture in diaper pails and trash cans or sprinkle on carpets just before vacuuming (test a small area first). In fact, plain old baking soda solves many odor problems.

Fresh sage cleans and purifies the air. Toss a few sprigs of fresh sage into your fireplace or burn the leaves in a safe receptacle such as an incense burner. Another natural fix: Toss slices of lemon or lime into your garbage disposal to clean and deodorize it.

Stale air should no longer be a problem in your home or car with the variety or air fresheners on the market. While the selection is intimidating, you can narrow the choice down based on the location you need to freshen and your preferences. Once you have a type in mind, you can hone in on the scent.

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